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THE POST THE SUMMER EDITION Thursday, June 25,2009 thcpost.ohiou.edu Our 69th year McDavis proposes $1 million towards athletic deficit Emily Grannis For The Post Ohio University President Roderick McDavis announced the budget recommendations he will make to the Board of Trustees today, including about $1 million to move Intercollegiate Athletics toward a balanced budget. The proposed budget for fiscal year 2010 includes $2.9 million in funding Vision Ohio initiatives, mostly in starting a new four-year nursing program, promoting learning communities and supporting enrollment management efforts. McDavis will also recommend an additional $5.2 million in scholarships and financial aid, according to an e-mail he sent to faculty earlier this month. In addition to the nursing program, McDavis is suggesting $lBl,OOO for faculty promotions to cover increased salaries and $203,000 for summer instruction.Joe McLaughlin, chairman of Faculty Senate, said it doesn't send the right message for the president to bail out athletics yet ask academic units to cut costs. "It makes no sense to me that... in a year when academic units had to cut instructional priorities to meet their budget cuts, when we shifted $1.2 million in health care costs, that we're doing this," McLaughlin said. ICA has faced scrutiny this year for carrying a deficit of more than $7 million. McDavis told ICA to cut $1 million in base spending. OU has cut $13.5 million from its budget this year, including laying off 58 employees as of June 11. Administrators postponed the next phase of a promised $1.2 million initiative to increase faculty salaries this year and shifted more than $1 million in health care costs to employees. McLaughlin said the money to ICA was particularly troubling considering the sacrifices faculty and staff made this year. The money McDavis hopes to allocate to athletics next year does come from the general fee, meaning it's student fee money that must be used on student activities. Becky Watts, McDavis' chief of staff, said it would be illegal for the university to use general fee money on faculty salaries. McLaughlin suggested increasing tuition and decreasing the general fee to stay in compliance with a state-mandated freeze, but allow for more flexibility in spending. Tuition money, however, must be spent on instructional costs, so student activities could take a cut in such a scenario. McDavis based his recommendations on priorities laid out by the General Fee Advisory Committee. A report out of that committee listed Student Affairs as its first priority, followed by the provost's office, the graduate college, ICA, campus recreation, Finance and Administration, the Marching 110 and the College of Arts and Sciences. OHIO LIBRARIES FACING CUTS Jessica Hoibrook Editor in Chief J.W.Johnson Jr. Managing Editor Alden Library may be affected by Ohio Link budget reduction Ohio University students may have a harder time acquiring books for class and research in the coming months. With Ohio Governor Ted Strickland proposing massive cuts to public libraries state- wide, Alden Library is bracing for substantial cuts to the amount of books and media that is available through Ohio Link, a statewide inter-library loan program. The proposed budget comes after months of deliberation on how the state would erase a $3.2 billion deficit. The proposalJames Roh | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Vanessa Kraps, 23, browses through books at the Athens Public Library yesterday. Kraps frequents the library several times a week. James Roh | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Mason Idleman, 2, climbs through the puppet stage at the Athens Public Library. Idleman's grandmother, Lynn O'Leary, brings Mason to the library about three times a week. Possible loss statewide over next two years MURDER TRIAL RECAP Boler sentenced 28 years to life in prison Frank Thomas For The Post New Marshfield resident Phillip "Wolf" Boler will spend 28 years to life in prison for killing a Meigs County man during a failed armed robbery in February. An Athens County jury found Boler guilty of aggravated robbery and felony murder last Thursday after seven and a half hours of deliberation.Boler, 27, stood accused of leading three others on a raid of a New Marshfield residence, that turned into a shoot-out and caught Donnie Putnam in the crossfire, killing him. Boler's three codefendants, Abdifatah Abdi, Hamda Jama and Mohat Osman, also face life in prison for robbery and murder charges that relate to the shooting. Their trials will begin later this year. The trial began with opening statements on June 10 after two and half days of jury selection. Before the trial, Boler's attorney, James Wallace, requested that the proceedings be moved to a different county, saying that media coverage of the shoot-out and Athens County's lack of ethnic diversity would make it difficultdifficult for his client to get a fait trial. Throughout the early stages of the investigation, much about the shoot-out remained unclear with police calling it a robbery gone awry and then suggesting that drugs had played a role. Police said they believed Boler and his codefendants to be part of a Columbus-based gang. During the last day of testimony, the jury heard a recorded interview between Boler and police where he admitted planning and leading the raid to collect $13,000 Billy Os- borne, who lived in the trailer, owed him for cocaine. Osborne, who will stand trial in early July for an unrelated narcotics charge, denied dealing drugs during Boler's trial. However, experts and witnesses testified during the trial that Putnam was under the influence of cocaine, marijuana and amphetamines when he was shot and had gone to Osborne's trailer that night to buy marijuana. Boler also admitted in the interviews that he went to Columbus to pick up Abdi and Osman for use as "muscle," and that he planned to use violence to collect the debt and PHILLIP "WOLF" BOLER Housing causes structural worries Jessie Balmert For The Post With a tilted structure, missing shingles and windows that likely pre-date WWII, Ohio University junior Stuart Solomon's living situation is less than ideal or sturdy. "We have a couple of rooms that are death traps," said his roommate Jeremy Hume, a junior studying international politics. Students piled on 100-yearold floorboards built on shaky soil could spell disaster for many off-campus houses in Athens. "Our biggest concern without question is overloading," said John Paszke, director of Athens Code F.nforcement. Seeing pictures of Palmerfest with dozens of people on roofs and even more stand- Brock Fowler | CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER Cracked foundations and slipping soil add to structural worries for students Students who trapped RA face criminal charges Frank Thomas For The Post Four Ohio University students could face thousand-dollar fines and jail time for allegedly trapping a residential assistant in his room last month. Nineteen-year-olds Daniel Rambacher, Thomas Grasso, Andrew Upperman and Michael Detweiler face multiple misdemeanor charges for criminal mischief and unlawful restraint in Athens Municipal Court. The students, who lived in Perkins Hall at the time, allegedly locked Tele Gallagher, 21, of Akron, in his room on two occasions in May, allegedly using rope to barricade the door on the first occasion on May 15 and a chain and padlock for their second attempt, which took place on May 29. The students pled not guilty on all counts in their June 1 arraignment, according to court records. Upperman's pretrial hearing is scheduled for next Thursday with hearings for the others scheduled for later in July. For this crime, the students are charged with criminal mischief and unlawful restraint, which are first- and third-degree misdemeanors respectively. Authorities have also charged Grasso with possessing drug paraphernalia, a fourth degree misdemeanor, according to court records, Detweiler only participated in the second incident and is charged with a single count of both criminal mischief and unlawful restraint. First- and third-degree misdemeanors can incur $l,OOO and $5OO fines for each count respectively. For fourth-degree misdemeanors, the court can order a $250 fine. Ohio law also allows for judges to sentence first-degree misdemeanor offenders to a maximum of six months in prison and third degree misdemeanor offenders to a maximum of two months in prison. However, if a person is convicted of multiple misdemeanors, their cumulative sentence cannot exceed 18 months. Though often a third degree misdemeanor, criminal mischief is listed as first degree in this case, because the alleged crime cre- I knew it was a stupid idea at the time." —Daniel Rambacher ated a risk of physical harm to another, said Andrew Powers, chief of the Ohio University Police Department, adding that Gallagher would have likely been injured or killed if an emergency situation like a fire had arisen while he was trapped. Rambacher, who pled not guilty said that he regrets his actions. "I knew it was a stupid idea at the time," he said, adding that though he was not close friends with Gallagher, he "cared about his feelings" and never meant to cause him any "emotional harm." Rambacher alledgedly videotaped the incident, according to police. Detweiler could not be reached to comment on this story, and neither Upperman, nor Grasso, nor their respective attorneys returned phone calls for comment. In addition to criminal charges, the students could face suspension or expulsion See BUDGET, Page 4 See MURDER. Page 4 See LIBRARIES, Page 4 See RA, Page 4 See HOUSING. Page 4 w SPORTS » Page 6 COPPERHEADS Recap of yesterday's game against Xenia CAMPUS » Page 3 FIRE ALARMS Halls on West Green hear more than their fair share www.thepost@ohiou.edu BOARD OFTRUSTEES ** Check in this weekend for the latest meeting coverage TODAY d T-Storms f H 87° L65° TOMORROW Mostly Sunny H 87° L 62°

THE POST THE SUMMER EDITION Thursday, June 25,2009 thcpost.ohiou.edu Our 69th year McDavis proposes $1 million towards athletic deficit Emily Grannis For The Post Ohio University President Roderick McDavis announced the budget recommendations he will make to the Board of Trustees today, including about $1 million to move Intercollegiate Athletics toward a balanced budget. The proposed budget for fiscal year 2010 includes $2.9 million in funding Vision Ohio initiatives, mostly in starting a new four-year nursing program, promoting learning communities and supporting enrollment management efforts. McDavis will also recommend an additional $5.2 million in scholarships and financial aid, according to an e-mail he sent to faculty earlier this month. In addition to the nursing program, McDavis is suggesting $lBl,OOO for faculty promotions to cover increased salaries and $203,000 for summer instruction.Joe McLaughlin, chairman of Faculty Senate, said it doesn't send the right message for the president to bail out athletics yet ask academic units to cut costs. "It makes no sense to me that... in a year when academic units had to cut instructional priorities to meet their budget cuts, when we shifted $1.2 million in health care costs, that we're doing this," McLaughlin said. ICA has faced scrutiny this year for carrying a deficit of more than $7 million. McDavis told ICA to cut $1 million in base spending. OU has cut $13.5 million from its budget this year, including laying off 58 employees as of June 11. Administrators postponed the next phase of a promised $1.2 million initiative to increase faculty salaries this year and shifted more than $1 million in health care costs to employees. McLaughlin said the money to ICA was particularly troubling considering the sacrifices faculty and staff made this year. The money McDavis hopes to allocate to athletics next year does come from the general fee, meaning it's student fee money that must be used on student activities. Becky Watts, McDavis' chief of staff, said it would be illegal for the university to use general fee money on faculty salaries. McLaughlin suggested increasing tuition and decreasing the general fee to stay in compliance with a state-mandated freeze, but allow for more flexibility in spending. Tuition money, however, must be spent on instructional costs, so student activities could take a cut in such a scenario. McDavis based his recommendations on priorities laid out by the General Fee Advisory Committee. A report out of that committee listed Student Affairs as its first priority, followed by the provost's office, the graduate college, ICA, campus recreation, Finance and Administration, the Marching 110 and the College of Arts and Sciences. OHIO LIBRARIES FACING CUTS Jessica Hoibrook Editor in Chief J.W.Johnson Jr. Managing Editor Alden Library may be affected by Ohio Link budget reduction Ohio University students may have a harder time acquiring books for class and research in the coming months. With Ohio Governor Ted Strickland proposing massive cuts to public libraries state- wide, Alden Library is bracing for substantial cuts to the amount of books and media that is available through Ohio Link, a statewide inter-library loan program. The proposed budget comes after months of deliberation on how the state would erase a $3.2 billion deficit. The proposalJames Roh | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Vanessa Kraps, 23, browses through books at the Athens Public Library yesterday. Kraps frequents the library several times a week. James Roh | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Mason Idleman, 2, climbs through the puppet stage at the Athens Public Library. Idleman's grandmother, Lynn O'Leary, brings Mason to the library about three times a week. Possible loss statewide over next two years MURDER TRIAL RECAP Boler sentenced 28 years to life in prison Frank Thomas For The Post New Marshfield resident Phillip "Wolf" Boler will spend 28 years to life in prison for killing a Meigs County man during a failed armed robbery in February. An Athens County jury found Boler guilty of aggravated robbery and felony murder last Thursday after seven and a half hours of deliberation.Boler, 27, stood accused of leading three others on a raid of a New Marshfield residence, that turned into a shoot-out and caught Donnie Putnam in the crossfire, killing him. Boler's three codefendants, Abdifatah Abdi, Hamda Jama and Mohat Osman, also face life in prison for robbery and murder charges that relate to the shooting. Their trials will begin later this year. The trial began with opening statements on June 10 after two and half days of jury selection. Before the trial, Boler's attorney, James Wallace, requested that the proceedings be moved to a different county, saying that media coverage of the shoot-out and Athens County's lack of ethnic diversity would make it difficultdifficult for his client to get a fait trial. Throughout the early stages of the investigation, much about the shoot-out remained unclear with police calling it a robbery gone awry and then suggesting that drugs had played a role. Police said they believed Boler and his codefendants to be part of a Columbus-based gang. During the last day of testimony, the jury heard a recorded interview between Boler and police where he admitted planning and leading the raid to collect $13,000 Billy Os- borne, who lived in the trailer, owed him for cocaine. Osborne, who will stand trial in early July for an unrelated narcotics charge, denied dealing drugs during Boler's trial. However, experts and witnesses testified during the trial that Putnam was under the influence of cocaine, marijuana and amphetamines when he was shot and had gone to Osborne's trailer that night to buy marijuana. Boler also admitted in the interviews that he went to Columbus to pick up Abdi and Osman for use as "muscle," and that he planned to use violence to collect the debt and PHILLIP "WOLF" BOLER Housing causes structural worries Jessie Balmert For The Post With a tilted structure, missing shingles and windows that likely pre-date WWII, Ohio University junior Stuart Solomon's living situation is less than ideal or sturdy. "We have a couple of rooms that are death traps," said his roommate Jeremy Hume, a junior studying international politics. Students piled on 100-yearold floorboards built on shaky soil could spell disaster for many off-campus houses in Athens. "Our biggest concern without question is overloading," said John Paszke, director of Athens Code F.nforcement. Seeing pictures of Palmerfest with dozens of people on roofs and even more stand- Brock Fowler | CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER Cracked foundations and slipping soil add to structural worries for students Students who trapped RA face criminal charges Frank Thomas For The Post Four Ohio University students could face thousand-dollar fines and jail time for allegedly trapping a residential assistant in his room last month. Nineteen-year-olds Daniel Rambacher, Thomas Grasso, Andrew Upperman and Michael Detweiler face multiple misdemeanor charges for criminal mischief and unlawful restraint in Athens Municipal Court. The students, who lived in Perkins Hall at the time, allegedly locked Tele Gallagher, 21, of Akron, in his room on two occasions in May, allegedly using rope to barricade the door on the first occasion on May 15 and a chain and padlock for their second attempt, which took place on May 29. The students pled not guilty on all counts in their June 1 arraignment, according to court records. Upperman's pretrial hearing is scheduled for next Thursday with hearings for the others scheduled for later in July. For this crime, the students are charged with criminal mischief and unlawful restraint, which are first- and third-degree misdemeanors respectively. Authorities have also charged Grasso with possessing drug paraphernalia, a fourth degree misdemeanor, according to court records, Detweiler only participated in the second incident and is charged with a single count of both criminal mischief and unlawful restraint. First- and third-degree misdemeanors can incur $l,OOO and $5OO fines for each count respectively. For fourth-degree misdemeanors, the court can order a $250 fine. Ohio law also allows for judges to sentence first-degree misdemeanor offenders to a maximum of six months in prison and third degree misdemeanor offenders to a maximum of two months in prison. However, if a person is convicted of multiple misdemeanors, their cumulative sentence cannot exceed 18 months. Though often a third degree misdemeanor, criminal mischief is listed as first degree in this case, because the alleged crime cre- I knew it was a stupid idea at the time." —Daniel Rambacher ated a risk of physical harm to another, said Andrew Powers, chief of the Ohio University Police Department, adding that Gallagher would have likely been injured or killed if an emergency situation like a fire had arisen while he was trapped. Rambacher, who pled not guilty said that he regrets his actions. "I knew it was a stupid idea at the time," he said, adding that though he was not close friends with Gallagher, he "cared about his feelings" and never meant to cause him any "emotional harm." Rambacher alledgedly videotaped the incident, according to police. Detweiler could not be reached to comment on this story, and neither Upperman, nor Grasso, nor their respective attorneys returned phone calls for comment. In addition to criminal charges, the students could face suspension or expulsion See BUDGET, Page 4 See MURDER. Page 4 See LIBRARIES, Page 4 See RA, Page 4 See HOUSING. Page 4 w SPORTS » Page 6 COPPERHEADS Recap of yesterday's game against Xenia CAMPUS » Page 3 FIRE ALARMS Halls on West Green hear more than their fair share www.thepost@ohiou.edu BOARD OFTRUSTEES ** Check in this weekend for the latest meeting coverage TODAY d T-Storms f H 87° L65° TOMORROW Mostly Sunny H 87° L 62°